Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 41
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Isaiah 41
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Isaiah 41
Commentary Groups
This author has written multiple commentaries over their lifetime on this chapter. We have grouped their commentaries for easier reading."Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment." — Isaiah 41:1 (ASV)
Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
He challenges them to a debate. He gives them breathing time – instructs them to prepare themselves and come with the best arguments that their minds could find.
"Who hath raised up one from the east, whom he calleth in righteousness to his foot? he giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; he giveth them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow. He pursueth them, and passeth on safely, even by a way that he had not gone with his feet." — Isaiah 41:2-3 (ASV)
Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.
Who was it that raised up Cyrus, and who made him strong to defeat the foe? Did the false gods do it? Could they claim any share in this? He puts it to them.
"Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last, I am he." — Isaiah 41:4 (ASV)
Who has wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Long before Cyrus was born, God thus spoke of him. It is declared what work he should do. What better proof could there be that God is God? Do the false gods foretell the future? Are their oracles to be depended upon? Yet the Lord's word is true and stands fast forever. I Jehovah, first, and with the last, I am he.
"Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment." — Isaiah 41:1 (ASV)
Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
God invites people to argue with him. He instructs them first "listen" to him, and then speak to him. They had been worshipping idols, so the Lord shows them that the idols are nothing, and that all worship paid to them is a lie. He begins by asking a question.
"Who hath raised up one from the east, whom he calleth in righteousness to his foot? he giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; he giveth them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow." — Isaiah 41:2 (ASV)
Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his east, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.
These words are supposed to allude to Cyrus, who came "from the east" and conquered "the nations," and then did good to the house of Israel. It was God who spoke of Cyrus long before he was born.
What idol god has been able to utter any prophecy? Only the Most High who lives in heaven can foretell things to come.
One of the best proofs of our holy religion is found in the prophecies which have been fulfilled to the letter in various countries and at different periods. Now, when they dig up old stones that have been hidden for hundreds of years from human eyes, they see proof of how God saw into the future and commanded His prophets to foretell the things that were to come.
Jump to: